Level.



PATENTED JAN. 30

J. T. RIDER.

LEVEL.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.10, 1904.

rnvrrnn s'rarns PATENT OFFICE.

LEVEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

- Patented Jan. 30, 1906.

Application filed November 10, 1904. Serial No. 232,222.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN TnoMrsoN RIDER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oil City, in the county of Venango and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Levels, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in levels, more especially for use by carpenters, bricklayers, and similar mechanics or artisans.

The object of my invention is to improve the construction of the levels of that class in which a glass tube or bottle contain-ing alcohol, mercury, or similar liquid is employed and having a suitable air-bubble by which the horizontal, vertical, or angular inclination of an object or article can be ascertained and determined to a niccty in an easy and expeditious manner, also to produce a level that is economical and reliable; furthermore, that it may be produced at a reasonable expense, is not liable to get out of order, and can be easily repaired, also that the horizontal as well as the vertical planes or levels can be observed at the same time, and, finally, that it can be made or repaired by skilled or unskilled mechanics.

With these objects in view my invention consists in the peculiar construction of certain new and improved details and the novel arrangement of parts, all of which will be more fully described hereinafter, and p articularly pointed out in the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and the letters thereon.

Like letters indicate similar parts in the different figures of the drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side view of myimproved level. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same on line as as. Fig. '3 is a detail view of the endless tube or bottle, part being broken away. Fig. 4 is a modification of the tube in elevation. Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the same.

In the drawings, A represents the stock or main part of the level, made of wood, metal, or any other suitable material. It may be made of any size desired and may be plain or ornamental. In this stock is secured the glass tube or bottle B in a suitable cavity. The tube B is adjusted in the caseA by screwing the screw f farther in or out in said case. A space i is left all around the tube B to per mit this and facilitate the adjustment. The spider is made heavy enough or may be made of brass or some other suitable metal. Said tube consists of an endless or continuous plece of glass or the like and contains the alcohol, mercury, or equivalent material and is provided with an air-bubble a to indicate the plumb or level of the object. The tube B is of square or rectangular shape and has at one corner a filling-piece I), through which the tube can be filled when desired. A brace O with arms is provided and has a central hub and is,

placed in the tube. It has a screw f, by which it is adjusted in the stock, as desired, as well as to hold it in place.

In the modification shown in Figs. 4 and 5 the tube or bottle is provided with one or more, preferably four, protuberances or projections B, arranged on opposite sides of the tube and formed in one piece with it. The object of these protuberanccs is that the bub ble can be better observed in the liquid. As is well known, especially in dark places, it is very diflicult to observe the bubble, thereby causing delay when leveling or plumbing. It also tends to facilitate the air-bubble assuming its proper position in the tube.

Suitable holes h in the sides of the stock are provided to facilitate the observation of the air-bubble when plumbing or leveling.

The holes are cut through the stock and are shown at h in the drawings.

The great advantages of my improved spirit-level will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art, and among others may be mentioned the convenience of leveling and plumbing, as no matter whether ends or sides of the level are picked up it is always ready, as the bubble in the tube will always come to the part being used. If plumbing and the level is held on end, it comes to that place and if leveling it will come to the side. In either case in using a level will be observed with greater facility, as the bubble can be ob served more quickly, especially in using it in. dark corners. Another great advantage of the level is its great simplicity and durability.

The tube can be made of square or any other cross-section, if desired, although I prefer it round. It can be produced at a small expense.

If desired, the brace may be cast with the tube either of metal or of glass in one piece.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isi The plumb and level herein described, con- 1 [0 ICC sisting of the stock, provided with a cavity, In testimony whereof I have signed my containing the rectangular or s uare tube B, name to this specification in presence of two which'contains a solid body of uid, and the witnesses.

indicating-bubble, that can freely circulate JOHN THOMPSON RIDER. 5 therein, in combination with the brace C and Witnesses:

set-screw f, all arranged as shown and speci- GEORGE W. MOORE,

fied. DAN B. GooDwIN. 

